Double-acting self-cleaning retractable brush



Dec. l5, 1959 L. R. PEILET ETA'.

DOUBLE-ACTING SELF-CLEANING RETRACTABLE BRUSH 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

Filedv Dec. 9, 1957 l lll l rNvENroRs Les'er I2. Pel \e.1' Phlllp Kaqe.

Edward E;. Tale- L. R. PElLET ET M-v Dec. 15, 1959 DOUBLE-ACTING SELF-CLEANING RETRACTABLE BRUSH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

v INVENTORS Les'f'er l2. Delle-I Phchp Kaqe Edward E. Ta'l'e DeC- 15, 1959 1 R. PEILET ETAL 2,916,756

DOUBLE-ACTING SELF-CLEANING RETRACTABLE BRUSH Filed Dec. 9. 1957 s sheets-sheet s :NvsmoRs Lg-ler Del lei l a e 5y Eduard Tare 9955144 United Statesy Patent O M DOUBLE-ACTING SELF-CLEANING RETRACTABLE BRUSH Lester R. Peilet, Chicago, Philip Kaye, Norridge, and Edward E. Tate, Chicago, Ill., assignors, hy direct and mesne assignments, to Brushes, Inc., Tucson, Ariz., a corporation of Arizona Application December 9, 1957, Serial No. 701,564 16 claims. (Cl. 15-1s4) This invention relates to brushes, particularly retractable brushes which are well adapted for brushing hair or other uses, and which may be carried very conveniently in a purse, pocket, handbag or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved retractable brush which has a double retracting action, and which is self cleaning.

A further objective is to provide such a new and improved retractable brush having a housing with relatively rotatable parts which extend as the bristles are retracted into the housing so as to aiord ample space to enclose the bristles.

Another object is to provide a new and improved retractable brush of the foregoing character in which the parts of the housing telescope together as the bristles are extended, so that the housing is extremely compact with the bristles in their extended position.

It is a further object to provide a new and improved `retractable brush in which loose hair and other foreign matter are automatically stripped oi the b ristles as they are retracted.

Still another object is to provide a retractable brush which is not only effective and highly convenient but is .low in cost and easy to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged elevational View, partly in section, of a retractable brush to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the brush being shown in its extended position. v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the brush in its retracted position. n

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the brush, partly in section.

Fig. 4 4is` an exploded elevational view of the brush, with the components partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cover or upper element of the brush.

Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the lower housing element of the brush.

Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing the bristle carrying plate embodiedin the brush.

Fig, 8 is a top perspective view showing an actuating plate normally secured to the underside of the bristle carrying plate when the brush is assembled.

Figs. 9-10 are developed elevational views showing spiral cam elements which are provided within the upper and lower housing members.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a brush 12 having bristles 14 which are retractable into a housing 16, so that the brush may be carried very conveniently in a purse, handbag, pocket orthe like. In this case, the housing 16 is, generally drum shaped and is formed with outer and inner telescopically related parts or members 18 and 20. fThe brush is retracted and extended by rotating the members 18 and 20 with respect to each other. Within the housing members 18 and 20 is a bristle carry- -ing member -22 which is moved back and forth to' extend ICS and retract the bristles 14 as the housing members 18 and 20 are rotated. A

As the bristles 14 are extended, the housing members 18 and 20move together, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the housing will be extremely compact when the bristles are extended. As the bristles are retracted into the housing 16, the housing member 18 and 20 move apart into an extended position, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to aiord ample room for the bristles. The extending and retracting movement of the bristles 14 is twice as great as the extending and retracting movement of the housing members 18 and 20, so that the brush is double acting. As the bristles 14 are retracted, they are automatically stripped of hair and other foreign material.

It will be seen that the illustrated upper and lower housing members 18 and 20 are generally cup shaped, having general cylindrical side walls 24 and 26. In this case, the side wall 26 ofthe lower member 20 is received within the side wall 24.

The upper housing member 18 has a top or end wall 28 with a large number of hoes 30 therein to receive the bristles 14. It will be seen that each of the holes 30 has a flared lower portion 32 to facilitate initial assembly of the brush. By virtue of the reception of the bristles 14 in the holes 30, the bristle carrying member 22 rotates with the upper housing member 18.

In this case, the bristle carrying member 22 takes the form of upper and lower plates 34 and 36, which are cemented or otherwise suitably secured together. As illustrated, the upper plate 24 is formed with a plurality of button headed downwardly projecting studs or lugs 38 which are received in apertures 40 formed in the lower plate 36. The engagement of the lugs 38 with the apertures 40 insures that the plates 34 and 36 will rotate together.` Moreover, the provision of the studs 38 and apertures 40 assists in securing the plates 34 and 36 together. Various materials may be employed for the plates 34 and 36. For example, the plate 34 may be made of plastic, while the plate 36 may be made of metal.

The bristles 14 may be mounted in sockets 42 formed inthe lupper plate 34. It will be understood that the bristles may be arranged in tufts as shown, or may be secured to the plate 34 `as individual bristles. In some cases the bristles 14 may be molded integrally with the plate 34, rather than being formed separately and secured thereto as shown.

Thread or cam means may be provided to advance and retract the housing elements 18 and 20 as they are rotated with respect to each other. As shown, the thread means take the form of spiral cams or threads 44. In this case, the spiral threads 44 are formed within the cylindrical side wall 24 of the upper housing member 18. The illustrated threads 44 take the form of grooves in the side wall 24. Lugs or ears 46 are formed at the upper end of the inner side wall 26 to engage the grooves 44. Thus, the upper and lower housing members 18 and 20 will extend and retract as the members are rotated with respect to each other. The extending movement is limited by the engagement by the ears 46 with the lower ends of the spiral grooves 44. To limit the contracting movement, the lower housing member 20 has an outwardly projecting flange 48 on its lower end, to engage the lower end of the upper side wall 24. The ange 48 also provides a convenient hand grip on the lower housing members 20.

As shown to best advantage in Fig. 9, three of the spiral grooves 44 are provided in this instance. The grooves 44 are quite steeply pitched so that very little rotary movement is required to extend and retract the housing members 18 and 20.

In order to provide a double extending and retracting movement for the bristles 14, thread means are provided ,Patented Dec. 15, 1959 to act between the lower housing member 20 and the bristle carrying member 22. In this case, the thread means take the form of spiral threads or cam grooves 50 formed on the inside of the lower side wall 26 as shown to best advantage in Fig. l0. Three steeply pitched grooves 50 are provided in this case. The grooves 50 are engaged by ears or lugs 52 on the bristle carrying member 22. More specifically the ears 52 are formed on the lower plate 36 of the bristle carrying member 22. The ears 52 may be slightly twisted so as to slide smoothly in the grooves 5).

To afford access to the inside of the housing 16 the lower housing member 20 is formed with a lower end wall 54 with an access opening 56 therein. A closure panel 58 is normally mounted in the opening 56 and may be held in pace by slightly protruding lugs or ears 60 adapted to snap into grooves 62, formed in the lower wall 54. An inclined notch 64 may be formed in the lower wall 54 at one point along the edge of the opening 56, so that a coin or the like may be inserted to pry out the closure panel 58.

In this case, the access opening 56 occupies most of the lower wall 54, so that the inside of the housing 16 may readily be cleaned when the closure panel 58 is removed. The panel 58 may easily be snapped back into place when the cleaning operation is completed. It should be noted that the spiral cam grooves 44 and 5) are oppositely angled so as to providey a double advancing and retracting action. The bristles 14 are advanced and retracted by rotating the cup shaped housing members 18 and Ztl with respect to each other. As the bristles are advanced, the spiral cam grooves 44 cause the housing member Ztl to move into the housing member 18. This makes the housing 16 more compact and also tends to extend the bristles 14. Because of the reception of the bristles 14. in the holes 30, the bristes and the bristle carrying member 22 rotate with the upper housing member 18, and thus rotate relative to the lower housing member 2d. The action of the cam grooves 50 causes the bristle carrying plate 22 to advance within the lower housing member' 20. Thus, the advancing movement of the bristles 14 is twice the telescopic movement of the housing members 18 and 20.

When the bristles 14 are retracted, the housing members 13 and Ztl are telescopically extended, as shown in Fig. 2, while the bristle carrying member 22 is moved downwardly within the lower member 20. Thus, ample room is provided within the housing 16 so that the bristles 1.4 may be fully retracted. -Iowever, the upper ends of the bristles 14 remain within the holes 30 so that the bristles may readily be extended again.

As the bristles 14 are retracted through the holes 30, the upper end wall 28 automatically strips loose hair, dandruti flakes and other foreign materials off the bristles. Thus, the brush is se'f-cleaning. Because of the double retracting and advancing action, very little rotary movement of the housing members 18 and 20 is needed to advance and retract the bristles. The housing 16 is eX- tremely compact when the bristles are extended so that the brush is easy to hold and use. Nevertheless, the housing provides ample room for the bristles when they are retracted.

.t will be recognized that the housing members as well as the bristle carrying plate 34 may readily be molded from plastic. The lugs 46 and 52 may readily be i11- serted into the grooves 44 and S0 by slightly exing the side walls 24 and 26. Thus, the components of the brush are readily made and easily assembled. Accordingly, the brush may be easily manufactured at low cost.

Various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having upper and lower cup members, said lower cup member being telescopically movable into and out of said upper cup member, said upper cup member having a generally cylindrical side wall with internal thread means therein, said lower cup member having a general`y cylindrical side wall with elements thereon for engaging said thread means to advance and retract said lower cup member in response to relative rotation of said members, a mounting plate movable upwardly and downwardly within said side wall and said lower cup member, a plurality of bristles mounted on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said upper ycup member having a plurality of holes therein with said bristles received in said holes for extending and retracting movement therethrough, said bristles and said mounting plate being rotatable with said upper cup member by virtue of the reception of said bristles in said holes, internal thread means within said side wall of said lower cup member, and elements on said plate for engaging said last mentioned thread means so as to advance and retract said bristles in response to re'ative rotation between said cup members, said thread means in said lower cup member being oppositely pitched with respect to said thread means in said upper cup member.

2. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having upper and lower cup members, said lower cup member being telescopically movable into and out of said upper cup member, said upper cup member having a generally cylindrical side wall with internal thread means therein, said lower cup member having a generally cylindrical side wall with elements thereon for engaging said thread means to advance and retract said lower cup member in response to relative rotatfon of said members, a mounting plate movable upwardly and downwardly within said side wall and said lower cup member, a plurality of bristles mounted on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said upper cup member having a plurality of holes therein with said bristles received in said holes for extending and retracting movement therethrough, said bristles and said mounting plate being rotatable with said upper cup member by virtue of the reception of said bristles in said holes, internal thread means within said side wall of said lower cup member, and elements on said plate for engaging said last mentioned thread means so as to advance and retract said bristles in response to relative rotation between said cup members, said thread means in said lower cup member being oppositely pitched with respect to said thread means in said upper cup member, said lower cup member having a bottom wall with a removable panel therein to give access to the space within said cup members for cleaning and servicing.

3. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having iirst and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, generally helical cam means on said members for advancing and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation thereof, a third member mounted within said rst and second members, said iirst member having an end wall with a plurality of holes therein, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said holes for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, and second generally helical cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for advancing and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said iirst and second members, the reception of said bristles in said holes causing said third member to be nonrotative with respect to said first member, said first and second members moving apart into extended relation as said bristles are retracted through said holes.

4. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having rst and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, generally helical cam means on said members for advancing and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation thereof, a third member mounted within said first and second members, vsaid first member having an p end wall with a plurality of holes therein, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said holes for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, and second generally helical cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for advancing and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said first and second members, the reception of said bristles in said holes causing said third member to be nonrotative with respect to said first member, said first and second members moving apart into extended relation as said bristles are retracted through said holes, one of said first and second members having an opening therein with a disengageable closure panel in said opening to give access to the interior of said first and second members.

5. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, said second member being movably' received within said first member, spiral cam means acting between said first and second members for advancing and retracting said members in response to relative rotation thereof, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of holes therein, a third member movable within said second member, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said holes for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, second spiral cam means acting between said second and third members for advancing and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation between said first and second members, the reception of said bristles in said holes causing said third member to be nonrotative with respect to said first member, said second spiral cam means being pitched oppositely from said first spiral cam means so that said first and second members will extend to receive said bristles and said third member therebetween as said bristles are retracted through said holes.

6. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a generally drum shaped housing having first and second generally cup shaped telescopically engaged members, said second member being movably received within said first member, said first member having a generally cylindrical side wall with first spiral cam grooves therein, said second member having lugs slidably received in said grooves to advance and retract said members in response to relative rotation thereof, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of holes therein,a third member movable within said second member, said second member having a generally cylindrical side wall with second spiral grooves therein, said third member having lugs thereon slidably received in said second grooves, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said holes for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, the reception of said bristles in said holes causing said third member to rotate with said first member so that the bristles will be advanced and retracted by the combined action of said first and second grooves in response to relative rotation between said first and second members, said first and second grooves being oppositely angled so that said members will extend to house said bristles as said bristles are retracted through said holes.

7. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively movable members, a third member mounted within said first and second members and movable relative thereto, said first member having an end wall with aperture means therein, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said aperture means for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, and means operable by one of said first and second members lfor advancing said third member in response to relative telescopic movement of said first and second members, said bristles thereby being moved outwardly through said aperture means.

8. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, first cam means acting between said members for advancing and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation thereof, a third member mounted within said first and second members, said first member having an end wall with aperture means therein, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said aperture means for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for advancingand retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said first and second members.

9. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively movable members, a third member mounted within said first and second members and movable relative thereto, said first member having an end wall with aperture means therein, bristles mounted on said third member and received in said aperture means for advancing and retracting movement therethrough, and cam means operable by one of said first and second members for advancing and retracting said third member in response to relative telescopic movement of said first and second members. l

10. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including at least one cam track on one of said members and a cam follower on the other member engaging said track, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said first and second members, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for protracting and retracting said bristles through said apertures in-response to relative rotation of said first and second members.

l1. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including a plurality of cam tracks on one of said members and a plurality of cam followers on the other member engaging said tracks, said first member having an end wall with a piurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said first and second members, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for protracting and retracting said bris tles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members.

l2. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having a first member and a second member telescopically received in said rst member and relatively rotatable therewith, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including at least one cam track on said first member and a cam follower on said second member engaging the cam track, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said second member, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third and second members for protracting and retracting said bristles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members.

13. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having afirst member and a second member telescopically received in said first member and relatively rotatable therewith, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including at least one cam track on said first member and a cam follower on said second member engaging the cam track, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said second member, said third member having a plurality of brist'es mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third and second members for protracting and retracting said bristles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members, said cam means including at least one cam track on said second member and a cam follower on said third member engaging the cam track.

14. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housingv having a first member and a second member telescopically received in said first member and relatively rotatable therewith, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including a plurality of cam tracks on said rst member and a plurality of cam followers on said second member engaging said cam track, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said second member, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third and second members for protracting and retracting said bristles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members, said second cam means including a plurality of cam tracks on said second member and a plurality of cam followers on said third member engaging the cam tracks.

15. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second telescopically engaged relatively rotatable members, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including a plurality of circumferentially arranged cam tracks on one of saidmembers and a plurality of cam followers on said other member engaging the cam tracks, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said first and second members, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third member and one of said first and second members for protracting and retracting said bristles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members.

16. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having a first member and a second member telescopically received in said first member and relatively rotatable therewith, first cam means acting between said members for protracting and retracting said members into and out of each other in response to relative rotation therebetween, said cam means including a plurality of circumferentially'arranged cam tracks on said first member and a plurality of cam followers on said second member engaging said cam track, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of apertures therein, a third member arranged within said second member, said third member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon and received in said apertures for protracting and retracting movement therethrough, and second cam means acting between said third and second members for protracting'and retracting said bristles through said apertures in response to relative rotation of said first and second members, said second cam means including a plulrality of circumferentially arranged cam tracks on said second member and a plurality of cam followers on said third member engaging the cam tracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,254 Slater Mar. 19, 1901 2,660,183 Gruning Nov. 24, i953 2,681,462 Turnes June 22, 1954 

